A disaster recover planning is a set of well- defined set of actions which help a business recover its technology and operations based on business policies. The best practices for disaster recovery of security planning and a subset of business continuity planning.
Disaster is something that strikes without warning and organizations irrespective of any size need to have an IT disaster recovery strategy ready at all juncture.
The steps for a stable disaster recovery plan
By now we have a fair idea of what is disaster recovery plan, let us figure out the steps for a stable DRP
Accumulate a team of stakeholders and experts
Creation of an IT disaster recovery strategy is not a single person’s job. This may require input from internal employees or external vendors. Even the emergency contractors must be part of the IT disaster recovery plan. There are a series of variables that need to be updated at regular intervals.
Take stock of inventory and analyse business impact
Business impact analysis is the foundation of a good DRP. The best practices for disaster recovery break down the business into individual assets. Every asset and service is then evaluated based on how long the company can continue without incurring any form of financial loss. Inventory includes individual assets which drive the functioning of an organization.
A risk assessment is to be conducted and the scope of IT disaster recovery strategy is to be defined
The BIA stage takes stock of what a business has to lose. Even the best practices for disaster recovery figure out the reasons why a business may end up making a loss. The risk management plan needs to be formulated based on associated costs and potential losses. Interpret each strategy based on the probability that it will occur.
The type of disaster recovery plan is to be defined
All businesses cannot stick to a single-fit disaster recovery plan. If an organization lacks the expertise to create their own DRP they can take the help of a third-party provider.
Testing of the disaster recovery plan
The practices for disaster recovery planning should be prone to regular testing. A good DRP is defined by the manner of it being tested. Consider the magnitude of this operation this can be time-consuming and tricky.
Apart from the automated tests, a communication plan needs to be part of an IT disaster recovery plan. The people who are in charge of different departments need to be walked through various scenarios that are covered in the playbook at regular intervals.
The best practices for creating an IT disaster recovery strategy plan
Below are the best practices for creating an IT disaster recovery strategy plan
The focus has to be on the assets or vulnerabilities rather than the disaster
Choosing particular disasters can focusing on them may lead to ignoring other potential threats. One of the better approaches would be to identify the core assets and then work up the associated vulnerabilities.
Keep continuing the process
The best practices for disaster recovery are not a one-time process. The requirements of business keep on changing and new infrastructures are added every day. This also means that the DRP needs to be updated regularly. A good DRP is expected to grow along with the business.
A readily available disaster recovery book should be handy
This book is meant for multiple stakeholders at various business levels and promotions. It needs to be written in clear and concise language that is understood by everyone. Once the book is approved the hard copy should be placed in an accessible area.
Have an eye on the process
The process of DRP is not only about the software and the hardware. Some people and processes are involved at each step. All these work processes have an important role to play in the playbook.
A testing schedule is necessary and stick to it
A DRP is as good as its testing schedule. If the plan is untested it may lead to a false sense of security. Normally according to best practices for disaster recovery planning it is tested 3 to 4 times in a year.
Creation of comprehensive post-test reports
Any form of testing activity should result in a comprehensive report where important points have to be mentioned in depth. A successful test is one that catches an error in the event it would have made it to the final list.
Ensure that the employee awareness, training are up to date
it is necessary to keep all the concerned people in the loop which is one of the best practices for disaster recovery. In addition, the DRP plan has to be part of the company culture just like fire drills. Training needs to be regular and the information updated.
The DRP is to be supplemented with security and data protection solutions
Once you replicate a new secondary setup, it indicates you need to replicate the security concerns too. Any ransomware demands and security concerns need to be curtailed.
Everyday software has to be protected
The everyday software may not be involved in the logging-in stage but they need to be protected on all counts. Losing out on contact information with potential clients may have a rippling effect
Comply with good reporting
Just like test reports on the ground reporting too holds a lot of significance. Once a disaster strikes and the DRP is in motion there have to be provisions in place for documenting every step. It is necessary to have an idea of what works best and which are the things that may require tweaking.
By now you have a fair idea of what is disaster recovery planning it is evident that an organization cannot afford to ignore it. With the volume of natural and man-made attacks on the rise a well thought out Disaster recovery plan makes reasonable sense. A good DRP goes a long way in developing a resilient and a confident business.